Coffin.



E. MILLER.

. COFFIN.

APPLICATION men APR-14.1916.

Witne sses/ Patented June 27, 1916.

LEWIS E. MILLER. F NEODESHA, KAIN'SJL COFFIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented time 27, 1916.

Application filed April 14, 1916. Serial No. 91,145.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS E. MILLER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Neodesha, in the county ofVilson and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Coffin, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The device forming the subjectmatter of this application is a coffin,and the invention aims to provide a device of this type so constructedthat the corpse may be laid out on a flat base, a trough shaped coverbeing superposed on the base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cofiin made out of glassor fictile material, so that there will be nothing about the structuresubject to decay or deterioration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coffin that may bescaled up tightly, the construction, however, being such that the corpsemay be viewed readily if the structure is made of glass.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel scaling jointbetween the base and the cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means forassembling the handles with the base, when the base is made out offictile material.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will. appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction, hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention, herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows the invention in sideelevation; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a cross sectionon the line 33 of' 'Fig. 3; and Fig. l is a detail enlarged from l-ig.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a base 1 havingan upstanding marginal flange 2 and comprising a pallet 3 upstandingabove the flange 2 and spaced laterally therefrom to define a groove 4;.

The invention, includes, further, a cover 5 1n theform of an invertedtrough and of any desired cross section. The cover 5 is provided with atongue 6 defining a shoulder 7. The shoulder 7 rests on topof the pallet3 and the tongue extends into the groove 4. The cover, further, isprovided with an outstanding flange 8 overhanging the marginal flange 2of the base 1. A layer of cement 9 is placed in the groove 4 and alongthe upper edge of the rlange 2, the layer above mentioned cooperatingwith the tongue 6 and the flange 8 of the cover. Owing to theconstruction above described, the cover may be securely sealed to thebase.

Fixed to and upstanding from the pallet 3 are cross strips 10 upholdinga support 11 including a head rest 12 and carrying a cushion 14;, uponwhich the corpse may be placed. Formed integrally with the base 1 andprojecting upwardly therefrom are brackets 16 carrying hand rails 17extended longitudinally of the base. The brackets 16 have inwardlyprojecting shoulders 50. The ends of the cover may be equipped withdepending hook-shaped handles 15.

It is contemplated that the device forming the subject matter of thisapplication shall be fashioned throughout the fict-ile material orglass. If glass is used, the coffin may be sealed up, as indi 'ated inFig. 3, it

being possible to view the corpse through the cover which, if of glass,is of course transparent. The foregi'iing considerations are ofimportance, if the occupant of the coflin has died of a contagiousdisease. it is to be observed that the handles 17 and the brack-.

ets 16, along with the base 1, may be made in one piece of fic'tilematerial. 1

T he device forming the subject matter of this application niay betrimmed internally in any desired manner, the trimming being held inplace by an adhesive.

l/Vedge blocks 51 may be inserted between the lugs or shoulders 50 onthe brackets 16, and the flange 8. In this manner, the cover 5 will beheld on the base 1. Owing to the fact that'th'e trough-shaped cover 5 isinverted over the base 1, and since the pallet 3 upstands above theflange 8, Water will not rise above the cover, and wet the corpse, eventhough the joint between the base and the cover should leak slightly.Since the cover 5 is of inverted. trough shape, the air within the coverwill be compressed and consequently the water will be prevented fromrising above the upper surface of the pallet 3.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is 1. In a deviceof the class described, a base made of moldable material, the baseincluding upstanding, integrally formed brackets, and longitudinal handrails formed integrally with the brackets; and an inverted,trough-shaped cover superposed on the base.

2. In a device of the class described, a Collin comprising a base havinga handle; a

trouglbshaped cover inverted 0n the base and provided with anoutstanding element; and. a removable holding member inserted betweenthe handle and the outstandingelement and constituting a means 'ferholding the cover on the base.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS E. MILLER.

it-messes HARRY WOODRLNG, H. B. HAYNES.

